So I decided to starting working on my coffee skills, and of course am starting with a grinder. I have done a lot of research and am still stuck on picking one. My daily brew has been store bought espresso grind, out of a stove top Bialetti, or more often a cheap drip machine, and I am happy drinking that. I have done some experimenting with pour overs and fresh roasted beans, but it just doesn't work well with my blade grinder, to the point where I prefer the cheap store espresso.

It may be some time before I can get a real espresso machine. In the meantime I would like to be able to at least make a good pour-over and Bialetti cup. As I understand it, the Mini Mill Slim is the least expensive, passable grinder, but would need to be upgraded when getting a machine. Something like the LIDO if I would be able to use it down the line for real espresso as well would be great, but I haven't found much about it being used in this way. I guess it is too new. The PHAROS is more then I would like to spend now, but would be a good upgrade option from the Hario if I don't get the LIDO

If I would need to upgrade again anyway, I would rather save the $ if I can get away with the Mini Mill for now. If the LIDO will perform well for all, I would rather get the higher quality now. I only mention hand grinders because I figure you get the same burr at half the price so for a budget it is going to be the best option.

if those are your only options and you really dont want to spend much money, i'd suggest just using the mini mill. you wont be getting a huge noticeable difference in the cup going from the mini mill to another hand grinder when doing drip coffee(...well, in my limited experience with drip grinders.).

if i were in your case, i would probably go with something that is for drip ONLY and when im ready for espresso, look for something else. If you really want one grinder for both espresso and drip, the cheapest one i'd suggest is probably something like the baratza preciso. Once you do actually start getting serious about espresso, you'll most likely want a separate drip and espresso grinder. It's a pain in the butt to have to dial in the grinder each and every time you switch from one method to another. In my case, i started with a refurb Baratza Virtuoso and then purchased a used Mazzer Super Jolly when i decided to do espresso.

the reason i dont suggest the pharos or lido for you is that the pharos really is only excellent for espresso and the lido is excellent for drip. neither one will be excellent for both. here's a good comparison thread on some of the high end hand grinders. Click Here (www.home-barista.com)

Great! I have read that article and basically everything else I could find on high quality low cost grinders, and I guess somewhere along the line took in too much information and started hoping the LIDO would work well for espresso because I like the design. I will keep the PHAROS on my *drool* list, and pick up a Mini Mill to help me figure out what way I want to steer my habit. I will keep my eyes open and that way have some available fund to throw at a more substantial used grinder if one pops up.

I love the mini mill for the aeropress. 17g doses. However, I use chemex as well, but have never gone beyond thinking about using the mini for this use. 17g pretty much taps out what I would want to grind at once (maybe 20g max). Anything more is too big a PITA. So FWIW, keep that in mind if you require larger doses of coffee at once (depending on which pourover technique/how big a batch you are making). If that were the case, I'd consider some of baratza offerings, perhaps the encore. Or see if the LIDO has more of an 'attack' to allow quicker grinding.....if memory serves from the reading I've done, it doesn't.

the encore is definitely one that would probably work well for you if you wanted to focus on home drip brewing. They are fairly cheap at $129.

after starting out with a Hario Skerton(that is now a work grinder paired with an aeropress) and then going to the Virtuoso and Encore, i cant imagine going back to a hand grinder for home use. Like diggi said, too big a PITA.

Buy the OE Pharos now and you will have great (not good but great - capital G great) coffee forever. Espresso later? You are more than covered - your espresso will be capital G great forever as well. I have a slew of espresso capable grinders, but I find myself picking up my Pharos 90% of the time.

Buy the OE Pharos now and you will have great (not good but great - capital G great) coffee forever. Espresso later? You are more than covered - your espresso will be capital G great forever as well. I have a slew of espresso capable grinders, but I find myself picking up my Pharos 90% of the time.

I only have my own comparison and now the link you provided to go on too. I grind a lot finer than what is shown in the link for pour over (Hario V60 mostly) and I find the Pharos more than equal to the task. I use my Lehnartz mainly because it is so incredibly fast (no idea why) for 16 - 18g of coffee - Preciso fast for this amount really.

The Pharos stays dialed in for espresso mostly, but I did run tests for it at V60 grind out of curiosity. Pricey for a drip grinder, sure, but priceless as an espresso grinder which the OP expresses interest in.

I chew coffee beans with my teeth while gargling with 195 F water to enjoy coffee. What is this "coffee brewing" device you speak of?

I love the mini mill for the aeropress. 17g doses. However, I use chemex as well, but have never gone beyond thinking about using the mini for this use. 17g pretty much taps out what I would want to grind at once (maybe 20g max). Anything more is too big a PITA. So FWIW, keep that in mind if you require larger doses of coffee at once (depending on which pourover technique/how big a batch you are making). If that were the case, I'd consider some of baratza offerings, perhaps the encore. Or see if the LIDO has more of an 'attack' to allow quicker grinding.....if memory serves from the reading I've done, it doesn't.

The majority of my drip brews are 10oz, none larger than 20oz (small apartment so no diner parties over here). I don't anticipate getting frustrated with a hand grinder. In general, doing things by hand is kind of my style.

I was considering throwing the Encore in the original post, but felt that if I was going to spend that much I would rather go for the LIDO. I was thinking the more expensive LIDO should have a higher percentage of the cost in the burr than the Encore and would therefore out perform it.

EricBNC Said:

Buy the OE Pharos now and you will have great (not good but great - capital G great) coffee forever. Espresso later? You are more than covered - your espresso will be capital G great forever as well. I have a slew of espresso capable grinders, but I find myself picking up my Pharos 90% of the time.

I would love the PHAROS now, but it is slightly out of my budget at the moment. I am curious about your response to frank828. Maybe I should just wait a couple weeks and purchase the PHAROS? Should I maybe try and track down a Lehnartz for now? I see they sell on Ebay regularly in the sub $30 range.

The LIDO might well outperform the Encore (not sure, as I only have a LIDO and haven't read anything comparing these two grinders), but if so my feeling is it would have more to do with burr stability than the burrs, themselves. Could be wrong. Anyway, the LIDO's great, but I don't (and won't) use mine for espresso; that's the Preciso's job around here. Do you have room in your heart (and kitchen) for two grinders, one of which would be reserved for espresso duty?

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